Valeo Corporation

Pierre Grunberg

Christian Pankowiak

Rabah Arhab

Patrice Bertin

Roger Texier

Jean-Claude Mouza

Alain Taquoy

Rene-Louis Hamelin

The invention proposes a detection device including a selector linkage with a gear change lever, with which are associated a force threshold detector, a first analog position detector connected to gear shift means, and a circuit for firstly activating an automatic clutch actuating system and secondly processing information received by the threshold detecting means and the first detector. A second analog position detector is connected to line selector and is responsive to information applied to the gear change lever, the second detector being connected to the processing and control circuit.

Gear position detector for the control of a clutch associated with a

A control mechanism for a machine element of the type including a fixed part and a movable part movable between two limit positions, e.g. an automotive vehicle clutch. A spring biasses the movable part to one of its limit positions. The control mechanism comprises a linkage for controlling the displacement of the movable part between its limit positions. A motor drives the linkage, and a resilient device is coupled to the linkage for reducing the force applied by the motor for displacing the movable part between its limit positions.

Control mechanism for a mechanical coupling device

The invention provides a method for controlling a clutch fitted with motorized actuation by means of a pulse-fed direct-current electric motor. According to the invention, the control system of the electric motor comprises a microcomputer associated with a memory, in which values defining the duration of the control pulses of the clutch are stored, and these values can be updated during the operating life to take into account ageing and wear. The invention is particularly suitable for automatic clutch control in an automobile.

Method of controlling a motor-driven clutch

A control mechanism for a coupling device such as a clutch or variable speed drive or brake comprises an electric motor. A mechanism links the electric motor to an actuator device for the coupling device. A brake device is coupled to this linking mechanism. The brake device is also coupled to the drive shaft and comprises two friction pads at diametrally opposed positions relative to the drive shaft in contact with the drive shaft. A spring urges the pads towards the drive shaft substantially radially. The brake device comprises a casing rotationally immobilized relative to the drive shaft, which passed through the casing, which encloses the two friction pads. The casing has a back wall and one of the pads is disposed between the drive shaft and this wall. The other pad is slidably disposed in the casing and pressed against the drive shaft by the spring, which is prestressed in compression. The casing is movable relative to the drive shaft in a substantially radial direction, which enables self-centering of the brake device relative to the drive shaft. The friction pad between the back wall and the drive shaft is molded in one piece with the casing. The casing comprises another back wall which has a threaded section screwed into the casing to form a movable abutment member for varying the prestressing of the spring.

Control mechanism for a coupling device such as a clutch, variable speed

A device detects forces in a gearbox operating linkage in order to control an automatic clutch operating system for the purpose of changing the gear ratio. The linkage comprises a shaft in the gearbox adapted to rotate between two limiting positions corresponding to selection of respective different gear ratios. It also comprises a deformable linkage element in the force detecting device adapted to move between two limiting positions corresponding to the limiting positions of the shaft. This deformable linkage element comprises two portions coupled together elastically by an elastic return device. The force detecting device comprises a speed parity detector adapted to assume a parity state representing the position of the shaft and varying according to which of its limiting positions the shaft is in. It also comprises a force direction detector associated with the deformable linkage element adapted to assume a state representing the configuration of this element, which varies according to whether the element is loaded in one or the other of two reference directions. These reference directions respectively correspond to movement of the deformable linkage element from one to the other of its limiting positions and vice-versa. The parity detector and force direction detector are connected to a processor circuit adapted to activate the automatic clutch operating system to disengage the clutch when the deformable linkage element is loaded in a direction tending to move the shaft to an unoccupied limiting position.

Speed change detecting device for controlling a clutch associated with a

In a method of automatically operating a clutch release bearing to re-engage a friction clutch adapted to transmit between first and second shafts a torque conditioned by the action of the release bearing on a clutch release device associated with the clutch, the clutch release bearing has a predetermined total travel. This extends between a clutch released position in which no torque is transmitted between the shafts and a clutch engaged position in which the shafts are coupled together in rotation. The clutch release bearing is moved according to speed modes selected from a plurality of predetermined speed modes according to the rotation speeds of the first and second shafts or the gear ratio. During a first phase the clutch release bearing is moved in accordance with a first or fast speed modes over at least a predetermined approach travel. Beyond this the changing difference between the rotation speeds of the two shafts is monitored. When a decrease in this difference is detected, a second or slow speed mode is substituted for the first speed mode.

Method of automatically operating a clutch release bearing according to

The wear take-up assembly comprises ratchet engagement device (51) which is interposed between a toothed sector (42) and a lever assembly (19). The toothed sector (42) co-operates with a positioner operating member (20) and resilient force moderator member (21). The lever assembly (19) acts on the clutch by way of the fork (41) and the thrust member (18). The lever assembly (19) advantageously, comprises two levers (49 and 50) so arranged as to amplify the movement of the lever (49) which co-operates with ratchet engagement device (51) so as to permit a fine wear take-up action.

Wear take-up assembly for the actuating arrangement of a coupling device

Automatic clutch control device

A braking system of the kind which comprises, for each front axle and each rear axle, at least one servo-operated control valve actuated by an anti-locking circuit which comprises a monitoring part and a control part, the electrical supply of the former being regulated by a safety switch controlled by the latter. According to the invention, the safety switch linked to the front axle is in series with the safety switch linked to the rear axle and is downstream thereof in relation to the corresponding current source. This de-activates the anti-locking circuit of the front axle in the event of failure of the anti-locking circuit of the rear axle, thus minimizing the possibility of locking of the rear wheels only during braking.

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Paris, France

Pierre Grunberg